Catching Fire - Book 2 of The Hunger Games, My Thoughts

SPOILER ALERT!   SPOILER ALERT!  SPOILER ALERT!  SPOILER ALERT!

If you haven't read the book yet or don't like to have hints of what is to come, please do not read!


I can't believe how intense this series is and how deep it is.  Poor Katniss goes through so much at such a young age.  Frankly, all of the characters have so much to learn to deal with and live through.  Just when I thought that Katniss and Peeta were safe, I realized that President Snow is twisted, maniacal and sadistic. 

I wondered what was going to happen when President Snow visited Katniss's house before the tour of the districts with Peeta.  I wondered if he was really going to let her off the hook if she was able to "convince" him of her love for Peeta.  But, at the same time, I knew something had to happen since there was another book to read and it couldn't just be about a happy ending for a whole book.  Katniss's description of him smelling like blood just leaves a picture of someone sick to the very core of his being.  

I hate that the Peacemakers were replaced in District 12.  I hate that Darius was turned into an Avox.  That twisted mind putting him on the 12th floor to get to Katniss!  President Snow has a mental knife that he just twists and twists after stabbing in the heart!  I'm convinced that he wrote the card for the Third Quarter Quell reaping and that it wasn't written years ago.  I wonder what the previous president was like and how President Snow got into his position. 

I love what the mockingjay stands for!  I love that the rebels have been underground and planning a revolt for a long time.  I love that District 13 is becoming an ally to the rebels!  Seeing the camaraderie between the Victors before going into the arena was encouraging.  It had me thinking that maybe they wouldn't fight each other in the arena.  But, then I realized, that if they didn't fight, the gamemakers would kill them off.  What kind of a stand would that make?  I wanted to hate Finnick and Johanna, but they turned out to be honorable people. 

As I see it, there is a lot of build up in this book.  It stops at a point that you just don't want to stop!  I wanted to keep reading when I got to the end and couldn't believe that it stopped where it did.  But then again, that's the point of a series, isn't it?  I couldn't continue because I needed to be responsible and take care of a few details of my daily life.  I am anxious to start up again tonight.  I've had friends who've told me they read until 2 am at times.  I believe it, because I actually was reading till 1 am one night.  But because I kept dosing off and refusing to put it down until I couldn't hold my kindle up anymore, I had to re-read two pages the next day.  I'm not sure what exactly Mockingjay holds, but it's got to be intense, considering that District 12 no longer exists.

Reading The Hunger Games

You would have to live under a rock if you haven't heard about The Hunger Games yet.  It's the most recent book/movie rage now.  My oldest has read the trilogy and many of her friends have, as well as a few of my friends.  I started reading the first book but had to stop to take care of some real life stuff.  But now I am trying to finish reading.  I've kept my time on Facebook very limited because so many of my friends have seen the movie now.  We've had to wait a bit because we had a scheduling conflict due to responsibilities the kids have in 4-H.  Plus I'm taking a few of oldest's friends with us and some of them had the same responsibilities.

Some of her friends keep telling me to keep reading!  To which, I respond "I want to, but I don't have as much free time as you all do!" And then they laugh.  Hee hee hee.  I read some more last night and need to give a bit of time each day.  Thing is, I know that I will have a hard time putting the book or kindle down once I get going.  And that's the reason I've taken so long since I started.  I'm at the point in the first book where I think the action is going to start in the next chapter.  I'll try to post a review without spoilers when I finish.